WIAA state cross country meet
When: Saturday
Where: Ridges Golf Course, Wisconsin Rapids
Schedule: Division 3 girls, noon; Division 2 girls, 12:40 p.m.; Division 1 girls, 1:20 p.m.; Division 3 boys, 2 p.m.; Division 2 boys, 2:35 p.m.; Division 1 boys: 3:10 p.m.
Area qualifiers
Teams: Darlington boys, Albany girls
Individuals: Jordan Hirsbrunner, Monroe; Taylor Bluemel, Brodhead-Juda; Cora Purdue, Brodhead-Juda; Madee Harding, Brodhead-Juda; Nick Baumann, Monroe; Dylan Scace, Monroe; Erin Wolf, Darlington
DARLINGTON - Last year, Darlington's Thomas Schultz became the first runner to be a member of four WIAA state cross country championship teams in his career with the Redbirds. Now, Darlington senior Jaden Komprood wants to repeat the feat.
"Thomas Schultz was the first one to win four straight state (team) championships last year," Komprood said. "We ran for him to get that state title. Hopefully, we can run as a team so I can get a fourth in a row."
The Redbirds are running for a fifth straight state title and gold trophy Saturday at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
Komprood had a feeling it could be a special year before the season even started.
"We knew at the beginning of the season we would have a pretty good chance to win a fifth (state title) in a row," he said. "Now, we have to show that we can win it."
The contenders looking to snap the Redbirds' streak are Boscobel, Chequamegon, last year's state runner-up, La Crosse Aquinas, Rosholt, Sheboygan Lutheran and McDonell Central.
Four of the Redbirds' top five runners ran at state last year.
"There are always six or seven teams with a legitimate shot of winning it," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "This year is no exception. We are going up there to win it. Every race you enter you are going into it to win it. We are going there to run our best race."
Chequamegon's Kevin Koski, last year's state champion, returns with the opportunity to win back-to-back titles. Boscobel senior Dakota Kauffman and Komprood will be in the mix for the individual title. Kauffman was the state runner-up last year. Komprood was third last year and ninth in 2013. Other potential challengers are Lourdes Academy's Lucas Weber, who placed eighth last year, and Belleville's Tyler Gilbertson, who finished 10th last season.
Kauffman was the
Division 3 Darlington sectional champion with a time of 16 minutes, 32 seconds, which was 23.8 seconds ahead of Komprood.
"I went out at a faster pace than usual, but that is how it will be at state," Komprood said after the sectional.
The Redbirds have an experienced team with senior Sean Barbee finishing ninth in the team results and junior Connor Hackett taking 15th last season. Senior Blake Cwynar placed 24th and sophomore Tanner Evenstad 39th at state last year.
"They have run in big meets before," Miehe said. "We just need to stay sharp and get some rest."
"Thomas Schultz was the first one to win four straight state (team) championships last year," Komprood said. "We ran for him to get that state title. Hopefully, we can run as a team so I can get a fourth in a row."
The Redbirds are running for a fifth straight state title and gold trophy Saturday at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
Komprood had a feeling it could be a special year before the season even started.
"We knew at the beginning of the season we would have a pretty good chance to win a fifth (state title) in a row," he said. "Now, we have to show that we can win it."
The contenders looking to snap the Redbirds' streak are Boscobel, Chequamegon, last year's state runner-up, La Crosse Aquinas, Rosholt, Sheboygan Lutheran and McDonell Central.
Four of the Redbirds' top five runners ran at state last year.
"There are always six or seven teams with a legitimate shot of winning it," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "This year is no exception. We are going up there to win it. Every race you enter you are going into it to win it. We are going there to run our best race."
Chequamegon's Kevin Koski, last year's state champion, returns with the opportunity to win back-to-back titles. Boscobel senior Dakota Kauffman and Komprood will be in the mix for the individual title. Kauffman was the state runner-up last year. Komprood was third last year and ninth in 2013. Other potential challengers are Lourdes Academy's Lucas Weber, who placed eighth last year, and Belleville's Tyler Gilbertson, who finished 10th last season.
Kauffman was the
Division 3 Darlington sectional champion with a time of 16 minutes, 32 seconds, which was 23.8 seconds ahead of Komprood.
"I went out at a faster pace than usual, but that is how it will be at state," Komprood said after the sectional.
The Redbirds have an experienced team with senior Sean Barbee finishing ninth in the team results and junior Connor Hackett taking 15th last season. Senior Blake Cwynar placed 24th and sophomore Tanner Evenstad 39th at state last year.
"They have run in big meets before," Miehe said. "We just need to stay sharp and get some rest."
